In all, 13 teams competed for the coveted “Chili/Salsa Bowl” trophies with more than 300 Guests and club Members sampling entries from all of the contestants and voting for the People’s Choice winners. Team Charlie’s Pride won for both salsa and chili this year. Panel judges, Fox 13 Meteorologist Lindsay Milbourne, DreamFIT Ice Cream Co-founder Nick McNeil and Corporate Executive Chef of First Watch Restaurants Shane Schaibly voted on their favorite entries, announcing Team HEAT Yoga as the amateur salsa winner and Team Hot Stuff (East Lake Woodlands Country Club Members) for the amateur chili prize. Team Countryside Country Clubclaimed the best Pro Chili and Pro Salsa awards.

“Every year this event gets bigger and better!” said Amy Jo Blevens, Area Network Manager for ClubCorp. “I am so thankful for our hard working ClubCorp staff, club Members from all of our Tampa Bay area clubs and their Guests. It is through these wonderful people and the local community who gave their time and effort that make a difference to this worthwhile cause.” Funds and products will be used to help end animal homelessness and provide care and comfort for companion animals in need through the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

Jun
2014
11

For the past 21 years, Tampa Palms has been more than a golf and country club, they’ve contributed to their local community as a certified Tampa Audubon Sanctuary!

The Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses (ACSP) is an education and certification program that promotes ecologically-sound land management and the conservation of natural resources on established golf courses. Participation is designed to help course personnel plan, organize, implement, and document a comprehensive environmental management program and receive recognition for their efforts.

Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club is currently undergoing the process of being re-certified, and we sat down with the Club to get the inside scoop.

What's the benefit of being an Aubudon Sanctuary?It shows the efforts of the Club to promote environmental sustainability and shows how golf courses can actually enhance the wildlife habitats and the environment.

When did you first become certified?The Club has been certified since 1993, and recertification takes place every 2 years.

What's the process like to become certified/to maintain certification?The process focuses on four categories: wildlife and habitat management, water conservation and water quality management, chemical use reduction and safety, and outreach and education.

What do the Members think?The Members like it and believes that it adds to the uniqueness of the Club!

Oct
2013
14

Imagine traveling to Las Vegas for a chance to win one million dollars! That dream became a reality for Hunter’s Green Country Club Member JoAnne Tucker and her mother Anna Zovko, when they were chosen out of thousands of people to compete in the Pillsbury Bake-Off® Contest! What makes this mother-daughter story so special is that they both qualified as finalists on their own!

The Bake-Off® contest is broken down into three categories: dinners, appetizers/sweets and breakfast. Each contestant had to submit an original recipe following the criteria given: no more than seven ingredients, 30 minutes or less of preparation, and two different eligible ingredients. Pillsbury narrowed down each category to 60 semi-finalists and then asked everyone to vote for their favorite. JoAnne and Anna marketed themselves together to try to get as many votes as possible. They passed out samples JoAnne’s breakfast bars with the slogan, “Vote for both and make a dream come true!”

JoAnne and Anna really enjoy cooking and baking together. “Being finalists together is just icing on the cake,” JoAnne said. They want to thank all of their friends and family for support, but most of all the Hunter’s Green community. “We are truly appreciative of all their help and support throughout this process.”

The top 33 finalists in each category will compete in the Bake-Off® in Las Vegas from November 10-12th for a chance to win one million dollars!

We love this story for two reasons: it shows how a mother's and daughter’s hobby turned into something great, as well as how the ClubCorp Tampa community stood behind their fellow Members to help them achieve their dream.

After reading this post, we bet all of you are hungry; here are the links to JoAnne's and Anna’s recipes. Happy baking!

Sep
2013
20

Coach Jon Cooper of the Tampa Bay Lightning recently spoke at the Centre Club about the upcoming 2013-2014 season. It was an event intended to bring the Tampa community together with the team, and for the team to share their story.

Cooper is new to the Tampa area, having just been signed Head Coach in March. He was impressed by everyone’s positivity and is proud to be a part of the community andfranchise. He said that his favorite part of the evening was the interaction with everyone after his speech.

The event was a great success, and to top it all off the Lightning gave Centre Club a hockey puck on dry ice!

Jan
2013
30

Held January 19, 2013 at East Lake Woodlands Country Club in Oldsmar, Fla., the Tampa Bay Society’s Third Annual Chili/Salsa Bowl was able to raise more than $4,000 as well as food, toys and bedding for the Humane Society of Tampa Bay.

Additionally, four dogs were adopted into new loving homes from the Humane Society’s Mobile Adoption Bus during the event.

Thirteen teams, which together made ten chilis and ten salsas, competed for the coveted bragging rights and trophies. In traditional fashion, event attendees were able to sample all the entries and vote for their favorites for the People’s Choice award.

A panel of judges, which included past winners and Humane Society volunteers, picked the grand prize winners.The awards went to: Team Pinehurst Pub as the amateur salsa winner, Team Swords Salsa (a first-time contender) as the pro salsa winner, Team Sand Peppers as the amateur chili winner and Team Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club as the pro chili winner. The People’s Choice award for both salsa and chili went to East Lake Woodlands Country Club Member Erick Milton. Congratulations to all team members!

“Our greatest donation came from a selfless five-year-old birthday girl, Keira Graebner, who chose to receive donations for the animals in lieu of gifts. It is through our wonderful members, sponsors and the local community who gave their time and effort that make a difference to this worthwhile cause.”

Funds and products donated during the event will be used to help end animal homelessness and provide care and comfort for animals in need.

This year’s event had more than 300 attendees.

Thank you to all who came and made the event such a success!A special thanks to the event sponsors: PETCO, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Fitzgerald Auto Mall, Comfort Keepers and The Learning Experience of Oldsmar.

Jul
2012
17

Erik Johnson

ClubCorp welcomes to its family Elizabeth Barker-Pinapfel, the new General Manager at Countryside Country Club in Clearwater, Florida.

Elizabeth comes to Countryside from New York, where she most recently served as General Manager at Pelham Bay and Split Rock Golf Courses located in Pelham Bay Park, New York City’s largest park. In her role there, Elizabeth was not only responsible for club facility operations but for the initial club set-up after an $11 million renovation as well as branding the property and building awareness for the newly created banquet facility.

During that time, she also served on the Bronx Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and as the Chairwoman of the membership committee. Additionally, she played active roles in The Boy Scouts of America, Irish Business Organization, The Mount Vernon Chamber, and the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee and was on the Board of Advisors for the American Lung Association. Dedicated to working with and for the local community, Elizabeth has been honored several times, including being named by The Irish Voice as one of The 50 Most Influential Women 2011.

Elizabeth’s career serving in the golf industry earned her a place in the top 20 of Golf Inc. magazine’s 2008 “Most Admired Operators” list.